West Northamptonshire

West Northamptonshire's population expanded between the last two censuses. At the same time there were changes in marriage, religion and housing tenure.

The population reached nearly 380,000

In the decade leading up to the most recent census, the population of West Northamptonshire increased by 8.5%, from almost 346,000 to 375,000.

The addition of almost 30,000 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, West Northamptonshire was home to, on average, 2 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the East Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the East Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older West Northamptonshire

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of West Northamptonshire increased by two years, from 37 to 39 years.

This suburban area had a slightly lower average age than the East Midlands and had a similar age to the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 13,000 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 5,000.

About 11% of people in West Northamptonshire are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and West Northamptonshire by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in West Northamptonshire

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in West Northamptonshire, but at a slower rate than across the East Midlands.

In West Northamptonshire, the proportion of single people increased from 28% in 2001 to 32% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 28% to 32%.

Across the East Midlands, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 28% to 32%.

The proportion of married people in West Northamptonshire fell from 53% to 49%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 11% to 12%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in West Northamptonshire

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 28% said they had no religion. The figure increased from 28% in 2001

The number of people in West Northamptonshire that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 60,000 in 2001 to about 100,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 17% to 28% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious affiliation.

The percentage increased by less than the average across the East Midlands (from 16% to 27%), but at a faster rate than the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in West Northamptonshire that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 250,000 in 2001 to just under 230,000 in 2011 (from 72% to 60%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation remained close to 26,000 (6.8%)

Just over 9,500 people (1.3%) said they were Muslim, up from just under 4,400 in 2001 (2.5%).

The population without a religion in West Northamptonshire increased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and West Northamptonshire by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in West Northamptonshire that rented privately increased from 7.3% to 15% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over one in seven (15%) households lived in social housing, compared with 16% in 2001. The percentage of West Northamptonshire households that owned their home decreased from 74% to 68%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased faster here than the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 8.5% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in West Northamptonshire increased by 7.8 percentage points

Percentage of households in West Northamptonshire, the East Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in West Northamptonshire

The percentage of West Northamptonshire residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 6.7% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.1%) reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 2.4% in 2001. The percentage of West Northamptonshire residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 91% to 90%.

The proportion of people who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 7.3% in 2001 to 6.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 6.8% to 6.5%.

The proportion of people who are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported being slightly limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in West Northamptonshire

Census 2011 asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 90% said they were from the White ethnic groups. The figure increased from 90% in 2001

The number of people in West Northamptonshire from the White ethnic groups increased from about 330,000 in 2001 to just under 340,000 in 2011. However, as a percentage of the local population, this represented a decrease from 94% to 90%.

The percentage decreased by more than the average across the East Midlands (from 93% to 89%), but at a slower rate than the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in West Northamptonshire from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from just over 8,700 in 2001 to about 16,000 in 2011 (from 2.5% to 4.3%). The number of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from about 5,100 to about 12,000 (from 1.5% to 3.1%).

About 8,800 people (1.3%) said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from about 4,400 in 2001 (2.4%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in West Northamptonshire decreased by 4.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and West Northamptonshire by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in West Northamptonshire working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 15% to 11% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.8%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.8% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 14% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in West Northamptonshire decreased by 3.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in West Northamptonshire, the East Midlands and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of West Northamptonshire residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.0% to 4.3% between the last two censuses.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (84%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 72% in 2001. The percentage of West Northamptonshire residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21% to 12%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 9.4% in 2001 to 5.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in West Northamptonshire decreased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in West Northamptonshire, the East Midlands and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in West Northamptonshire, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 9.7% to 11% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (28%) households had only one person, compared with 27% in 2001. The percentage of households in West Northamptonshire which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 41% to 36%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 8.7% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of West Northamptonshire residents that were unemployed increased from 2.6% to 3.8% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (57%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 59% in 2001. The percentage of West Northamptonshire residents that were self-employed increased from 8.6% to 10%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 3.4% in 2001 to 4.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in West Northamptonshire increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in West Northamptonshire, the East Midlands and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in West Northamptonshire without children increased from 60% to 61% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage that had at least one dependent child remained close to 31%, while the percentage of households in West Northamptonshire with only adult children living with their parents increased from 8.7% to 8.8%.

The proportion of households without children increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 61% in 2001 to 62% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 61%.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of West Northamptonshire residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.8% to 1.1% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.6%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 1.2% in 2001 to 1.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in West Northamptonshire remained close to 1.1%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and West Northamptonshire by care, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links